The snake, one of five owned by the family, had apparently escaped from its tank, Irwin Police Chief John Karasek said early today.

The father has been described as a snake enthusiast. Authorities discovered five exotic snakes and several lizards on the premises. The python that killed Amber was kept in a tank in the parents' bedroom.

Karasek said he had asked the Westmoreland County District Attorney's office to continue to help investigate the child's death.

Amber was breathing through a ventilator when she was pronounced brain dead at about 11 p.m. She was pronounced dead about an hour later. The coroner's office did not say whether the family had decided to turn the ventilator off. An autopsy will be performed today.

On March 14, 1996, the Mountains lost another child.

In that case, Amber's father, Robert Mountain, said he had accidentally rolled over on 3-month-old Brittany while the two were sleeping. The coroner's office ruled that Brittany died of accidental asphyxiation.